The announcement sets up a battle against Rep. Michael Grimm (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) and a possible Democratic primary against former Rep. Michael McMahon, a former Council colleague of Recchia's.

The Democratic Brooklyn city councilman said that he will soon file paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to formalize his bid for New York's 11th Congressional District.

"We need new leadership in Washington that gets results," Recchia said. "Leadership that can be trusted to fight for a better future for the people of Staten Island and South Brooklyn."

Recchia hit at Grimm for supporting GOP Rep. John Boehner for another term as House Speaker even though Boehner had delayed a vote on Hurricane Sandy aid.

"We need Grimm to stand up to the leadership of his party and fight for us more," said Recchia. "Enough is enough. We can do better. We deserve better. It's time for me to step forward and make a difference."

But Grimm had slammed Boehner for the Sandy delay and initially said he would abstain from the Speaker vote in protest. He supported Boehner only after Boehner scheduled a Sandy vote.

Grimm also garnered praise for the work he did in helping secure the $51 billion aid package.

The congressman's office declined to comment on Recchia's entry into the race.

Recchia looked at running against then-GOP Rep. Vito Fossella in 2008 but eventually declined. McMahon won the seat that year after Fossella dropped out of the race, and lost the seat to Grimm in 2010.

Though he lives in Brooklyn, Recchia has connections to the Island, where his mother, three sisters and aunts and uncles live.

As chairman of the Council Finance Committee, Recchia secured $250,000 for the Island's "big four" cultural institutions. He also had a profile here when he chaired the Council Cultural Affairs Committee.

Recchia said he disagrees with the political shibboleth that Islanders will not vote for a Brooklynite to represent them in Congress.

"People want somebody who's going to make a difference, to stand up and make sure we get our fair share. Someone who can say enough of the party politics," he said.

He added, "Many people who live on Staten Island are from Brooklyn."

As for a possible primary against McMahon, who hasn't announced his intentions, Recchia said, "This is not about me or Mike McMahon. This is about me stepping up to the plate. Mike's a nice guy."

McMahon, a partner at the Herrick, Feinstein LLP law firm, three weeks ago said that he was looking at running and would make a decision about the race "soon." He has made no public comments about the race since, and on Saturday night did not return a phone call or email seeking comment.

Recchia, who is term-limited out of the Council this year, has eschewed runs for city comptroller and Brooklyn borough president.

He has around $660,000 in cash on hand in his Council account, some of which could be transferred to a congressional run. 